Traders in downtown Kampala have dragged businessman Hamis Kiggundu, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to court, seeking justice and compensation for businesses destroyed by heavy rains last Friday.
Through their lawyer, Kalule Mpologoma of Luzige, Lubaga, Kavuma & Co. Advocates, the traders want the court to urgently intervene in the matter and suspend the ongoing reconstruction of the Nakivubo Channel, which they say has been carried out without a proper plan.
“We need to see traders compensated whose businesses were affected. NEMA is also at the centre of the current crisis in the city for allegedly allowing Hamis Kiggundu to continue with construction,” said Mpologoma.
The traders accuse Ham Enterprises, owned by Kiggundu, of carrying out redevelopment works around the Nakivubo Channel that have allegedly interfered with the natural flow of storm water, leading to flooding in nearby arcades and shops.
Godfrey Katongole, the chairman of the Uganda National Traders Alliance (UNTA), said that at least 300 traders have so far reported losing their merchandise in the Friday floods, with more cases expected in the coming days.
“These traders must be compensated. KCCA should also make public the proper plan for the redevelopment of the Nakivubo Channel,” Katongole said. “Initially, these arcades were never affected by floods until the recent construction works disrupted the water flow.”
Meanwhile, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has called for the arrest of Kiggundu, accusing him of illegally constructing part of the channel
Lukwago made the remarks during a meeting attended by both political and technical leaders from KCCA and more than 500 traders who lost property in the floods.
The meeting focused on compensation for affected traders, halting the ongoing construction of the drainage channel, and supporting victims to remove stagnant water from their buildings.
Lukwago said four people lost their lives in the floods, which he blamed on “reckless and illegal construction works” along the Nakivubo Channel allegedly undertaken by Kiggundu. [Watch Video]
“We cannot allow individuals to endanger people’s lives for personal gain. Ham Kiggundu must be arrested and held accountable for the deaths and destruction caused by this illegal construction,” Lukwago said.
He added that KCCA has formed a five-member committee to assess the extent of the damage and compile a list of all those affected.
KCCA executive director Sharifah Buzeki, said the authority’s technical team was already on the ground working to support traders and assess the damage.
“Our team is conducting an assessment to establish how best we can help those affected. KCCA will also engage the Office of the Prime Minister to discuss compensation measures,” she said.
